French President Emmanuel Macron condemned on Sunday what he called the "dissenters" who looted and vandalized cities in "shocking" scenes across France on the sidelines of protests over the cost of living.
"Looking at these images, we have all asked ourselves: what was going through their minds? How can French people do this to France?" Macron said in a televised address to the nation. "Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it. Tonight, we all feel anger and shame."
"Those who looted will have to pay back for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” he added, according to a report from French news outlet France24.
He pointed to “unrestrained violence” by “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals,” per the France24 report.
Macron vows to determine whether gov't failed in intel. or police preparedness
Macron, whose final six months in office are being shaped by mounting political, fiscal and social pressures, said he had ordered a review to determine whether there had been failings in intelligence gathering or police preparedness before protests that were later marred by looting and violence.
He said prefects and mayors would be empowered to ban certain gatherings where necessary.